Operating mode switching device

ABSTRACT

An operating mode switching device comprising a driving source (e.g., a solenoid), and a plurality of control levers which may be moved selectively, wherein a switching cam movable in a predetermined direction by said driving source is rotated as desired so that the nose portion of the switching cam contacts with one of the engaging projections formed in the control levers and disposed at different positions from one another to thereby selectively move one of the control levers.

United States Patent 11 1 Sakumoto et al.

[ 1 Nov. 20, 1973 OPERATING MODE SWITCHING DEVICE Inventors: Hideki Sakumoto, I-Iirakata;

Yoshiteru Namoto, 'Moriguchi, both ofJapan I Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan Filed: Nov. 28, 1972 Appl. No.: 310,004

Assignee:

Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 1, 1971 Japan 46/097362 US. Cl. 335/189, 242/201 Int. Cl. H0lh 3/04 Field of Search 335/189, 190, 177;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Haines 242/201 3,317,152 5/1967 Fukatsu 242/201 3,392,526 7/1968 1431361111.. 74/471 3,659,806 5 1972 Crafts 242 206 Primary Examiner-Harold Broome AttorneyRichard K. Stevens et al.

[57] ABSTRACT An operating mode switching device comprising a driving source (e.g., a solenoid), and a plurality of control levers which may be moved selectively, wherein a switching cam movable in a predetermined direction by said driving source is rotated as desired so that the nose portion of the switching cam contacts with one of the engaging projections formed in the control levers and disposed at different positions from one another to thereby selectively move one of the control levers.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PAIEN f'Eonnvzo ms SHEET 10F 2 IFIG.2

1 OPERATING MODE SWITCHING DEVICE The present invention relates to an operating mode switching device wherein a plurality of levers are selectively operated by a single main driving source.

In a magnetic recording and playback device, for example, the mode of transport of a magnetic tape must be changeable from one to another of three operating modes, i.e., constant speed run (recording or playback), fast-forward and rewinding modes. Generally,

the constant speed, fast-forward and rewinding levers coresponding to the three operating modes are selectively operated as desired upon depression of the associated push buttons provided separately one for each of the control levers.

In order to make remote control of such a device possible, a separate solenoid is provided for each of the control levers so that the solenoids may be electrically actuated from a remote place to effect switching between the operating modes.

A disadvantage of the former device is that an operator must depress the push buttons to actuate the control levers thus requiring the operators exertion of a force for the depressing operation of the push buttons, whereas a disadvantage of the latter device is that it is necessary to use three solenoids to provide the required driving force for the actuation of the control levers.

It is a general object of the present invention to solve these difficulties. 3

It is a specific object of the present invention to provide an operating mode switching device wherein a plurality of control levers are selectively actuated by means of a single driving source (e.g., a solenoid).

It is another object of the present invention to provide an operating mode switching device wherein in 'association with the operation for selecting from among a plurality of control levers one which is to be actuated, a driving source for actuating the control levers is automatically brought into action.

In accordance with the present invention, a device can be provided which is simple in construction and capable of effecting switching between operating modes, i.e., shut-off, recording, fast-forward or reversing in a sound recorder or video recorder.

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the present invention has been shown applied to a magnetic recording and playback device for the purpose of illustration and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c are plan views of the control levers employed in the embodiment of FIG. 1, which are useful for explaining the operation of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the switching cam employed in the embodiment of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, numeral 1 designates a main solenoid constituting the driving source and a mounting plate 2 is secured on the top thereof. Auxiliary solenoids 6 and 7 are arranged in juxtaposition on the mounting plate 2 so that plungers 4 and 5 of the auxiliary solenoids 6 and 7 are disposed perpendicular to a plunger 3 of the main solenoid l. Switches 8 and 9 are arranged in juxtaposition at the back of the auxiliary solenoids 6 and 7. A switching lever 10 is disposed on the mounting plate 2 by means of a shaft 11 in a manner such that its center of rotation is located between the plungers 4 and 5 of the auxiliary solenoids 6 and 7.

The switching lever 10 is connected to the plungers 4 and 5 of the auxiliary solenoids 6 and 7 by means of pins 12 and 13, respectively, so that in accordance with the actuation of the auxiliary solenoids 6 and 7, the switching lever 10 is moved about the shaft 11 through predetermined degrees of rotation in both directions to thereby assume any one of three operating positions including the one shown in FIG. 1.

A switch actuating lever 14 having one end thereof secured to the switching lever 10 extends between the auxiliary solenoids 6 and 7'and also extends between the switches 8 and 9 to close one or the other of the switches 8 and 9 when the switching lever 10 is rotated in one or the other direction.

Numeral l5 designates an actuating lever comprising, as shown in FIG. 2, parallel upper and lower plate members and pivotally secured at one end thereof to a shaft 16 mounted on the base plate (not shown) of the device. The actuating lever 15 is also secured at the central portion thereof to the plunger 3 of the main solenoid 1 by a pin 17 and it is urged in the counterclockwise direction ofa spring 18. A control lever switching cam 19 formed into a hatchet-like shape as shown in FIG. 4 is pivotally secured to the free end of the actuating lever 15 by a shaft 20. A pin 21 is set on the top of the switching cam 19 to project therefrom. The pin 21 extends from the rear side of the swiching lever 10 in FIG. 1 through a triangular slot 22 formed at the end portion of the switching lever 10 and the pin 21 is normally urged by the force of the spring 18 into engagement with the switching lever 10 at the top of the triangular slot as shown in FIG. 1.

Numerals 23, 24 and 25 designate, respectively, a constant speed run control lever, fast-forward control lever and rewinding control lever in the recording and playback device, which are-separately supported slidably in the direction of an arrow b in FIG. 1 by a supporting means which is not shown, so that when these control levers are slidably moved in the direction of the arrow b, the constant speed run, fast-forward and rewinding operations may be performed by conventional means. As shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c, respectively, the control levers 23, 24 and 25 are respectively formed with slots 26, 27 and 28 of different shapes in which the switching cam 19 is positioned.

In other words, the constant speed run control lever 23 is formed with a slot having an engaging projection 30 at the center on one side thereof and notched portions 31 and 32 on both sides of the engaging projection 30, the fast-forward control lever 24 is formed with a slot having an engaging projection 33 on one side thereof and a notched portion 34 on the other side thereof, and the rewinding control lever 25 is formed with a slot having an engaging projection 35 and a notched portion 36 in reverse relation with the engag- The main solenoid l is adapted to be actuated when either of the switches 8 or 9 is closed.

With the arrangement described above, the operation of the device will now be explained. Firstly, when the constant speed run control lever 23 is to be actuated, in which case the auxiliary solenoids 6 and 7 will not be energized, all the component parts of the device are in their positions shown in FIG. 1.

When the main solenoid 1 is actuated in this situation,-the actuating lever is rotated clockwise against the force of the spring 18. The switching cam 19 also rotates accompaning with the rotation of the'actuating lever 15. Consequently, a contact portion 19' on the nose of the switching cam 19 is brought into contact and urged against the engaging projection 30 of the slot 26 in the constant speed run control lever 23 as shown in FIG. 3a, moving the constant speed run control lever 23 in the direction of the arrow b and thereby providing the required operating mode.

In this case, the contact portion 19 on the nose of the switching cam 19 is positioned relative to the other control levers 24 and 25 so that the contact portion 19' is in opposition to the notched portions 34 and 36 of the slots 27 and 28, respectively, and thus it does not contact with the control levers 24 and 25, thereby actuating the control lever 23 alone.

Next, when the fast-forward control lever 24 is to be actuated, the auxiliary solenoid 7 is first actuated from its position shown in FIG. 1, causing the switching lever 10 to rotate clockwise by predetermined degrees. This rotational movement results in a counterclockwise rotation of the switching cam 19 by the pin 21.

The rotation of the switching lever 10 also causes the switch actuating lever 14 to close the switch 8, so that the main solenoid 1 is actuated to thereby move the switching cam 19 in the direction of the arrow b as mentioned previously.

Consequently, since the switching cam 19 has been rotated counterclockwise from it position shown in FIG. 1 as mentioned above, that is, it is now in the position shown in FIG. 3b, the nose of the switching cam 19 comes into contact with the engaging projection 33 of the slot 27 of the fast-forward control lever 24 and thus the fast-forward control lever 24 is moved in the direction of the arrow b.

In this case, in the slots 26 and 28 of the constant speed run control lever 23 and the rewinding control lever 35, the nose of the switching cam 19 is positioned opposite to the notched portions 31 and 36 and therefore the control levers 23 and 25 are not actuated.

Similarly, when the rewinding control lever 25 is to be actuated, the auxiliary solenoid 6 is actuated to rotate the switching lever 10 counterclockwise and thereby to rotate the switching cam 19 by predetermined degrees in the clockwise direction. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 3c, the nose of the switching cam 19 comes into contact with the engaging projection 35, thereby moving only the rewinding control lever 25 in the direction of the arrow 12.

It will thus be seen that according to the present invention, the driving force from a single driving source, i.e., the main solenoid 1 can be selectively transmitted to a plurality of control levers and thus it is possible to provide a device which is smaller and lighter in construction.

While, in the embodiment described above, the rotation of the switching lever 10 has also been effected by the auxiliary solenoids 6 and 7, an operating knob may be provided so that the operator may manually rotate the switching lever 10. The reason is that the rotation of the switching lever 10 does not directly actuate the control levers 23, 24 and 25 and therefore the rotation of the switching lever 10 does not require much effort.

What we claim is:

1. An operating mode switching device comprising a main driving source, a switching cam movable in a predetermined direction by said main driving source and having a contact portion at one end thereof, auxiliary driving means for moving said contact portion of said switching cam in both directions substantally normal to said predetermined direction of movement, and a plurality of control levers which are separately movably disposed in said direction of movement of said cam by said main driving source, each of said control levers having an engaging projection for engagement with said contact portion of said cam, said engaging projections being located at different positions from one another corresponding to said directions of movement of said cam contact portion by said auxiliary driving means.

2. An operating mode switching device according to claim 1, wherein said main driving source consists of a solenoid adapted to be actuated by a pair of switches selectively operable in association with the movement of said switching cam by said auxiliary driving means.

3. An operating mode switching device comprising an actuating lever rotatable by a main solenoid, a switching cam rotatably mounted on said actuating lever and having a contact portion at one end thereof, a switching lever for rotating said switching cam to a plurality of positions, auxiliary driving means for operating said switching lever, and a plurality of control levers separately movable in a direction of movement of said switching cam by the rotation of said actuating lever, each of said control levers having an engaging projection adapted for engagement with said contact portion of said switching cam, said engaging projections beinj located at different positions from one another along the path of rotation of said contact portion of said switching cam.

4. An operating mode switching device according to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary driving means consist of solenoids.

l 1' I. l 

1. An operating mode switching device comprising a main driving source, a switching cam movable in a predetermined direction by said main driving source and having a contact portion at one end thereof, auxiliary driving means for moving said contact portion of said switching cam in both directions substantally normal to said predetErmined direction of movement, and a plurality of control levers which are separately movably disposed in said direction of movement of said cam by said main driving source, each of said control levers having an engaging projection for engagement with said contact portion of said cam, said engaging projections being located at different positions from one another corresponding to said directions of movement of said cam contact portion by said auxiliary driving means.
 2. An operating mode switching device according to claim 1, wherein said main driving source consists of a solenoid adapted to be actuated by a pair of switches selectively operable in association with the movement of said switching cam by said auxiliary driving means.
 3. An operating mode switching device comprising an actuating lever rotatable by a main solenoid, a switching cam rotatably mounted on said actuating lever and having a contact portion at one end thereof, a switching lever for rotating said switching cam to a plurality of positions, auxiliary driving means for operating said switching lever, and a plurality of control levers separately movable in a direction of movement of said switching cam by the rotation of said actuating lever, each of said control levers having an engaging projection adapted for engagement with said contact portion of said switching cam, said engaging projections beinj located at different positions from one another along the path of rotation of said contact portion of said switching cam.
 4. An operating mode switching device according to claim 3, wherein said auxiliary driving means consist of solenoids. 